Monday Mentor: Kaye Dacus

Having just returned from the Middle Tennessee Christian Writers (MTCW) conference in Bellevue this week, I’ll have to admit I’m pumped about all the information I gleaned from this conference. I’m just about to set sail on the most intense writing adventure of my life, two back-to-back conferences, one in Indianapolis (ACFW) and the other here at home in Nashville (Midsouth SCBWI). I signed up for these conferences totally ignorant of what to expect. I am a newbie, afterall. However, after attending (and joining) the MTCW group, I feel much more sure of what I need to do to prepare. I’m not there yet, but I now have a very clear picture of what I’m aiming for.

Kaye Dacus

This week’s Monday Mentor is Kaye Dacus. Kaye is an accomplished writer, an experienced editor and the current president and co-founder of the MTCW. She is, in her own words, a woman whose life is dedicated to “hope, humor and happily ever afters.” I am especially grateful for Kaye’s dedication to make the MTCW conference a wonderful success. I also appreciate her taking the time to visit SerendipiTeeBlog.

I’m the author of humorous, hope-filled contemporary and historical romance novels with Barbour Books and Harvest House Publishers. I served as an officer with American Christian Fiction Writers from 2003–2005, and have served as president of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers since 2006. Even though I write romance novels, I love action movies and football and am not afraid to admit that I’ve never been kissed!

If we look closely, I believe we might catch a glimpse of your super woman cape. You seem to have found the right touch for writing books that readers can’t wait to read. You’ve had two books come out this summer. Please give us a taste of what’s waiting for us.

Ransome’s Crossing is the second book in the Ransome Trilogy from Harvest House publishers. Charlotte Ransome, desperate to reach Jamaica to see her secret fiancé, disguises herself as a midshipman for a convoy led by her brother, Captain William Ransome. Meanwhile, William and his new bride, Julia, face the rough swells of the sea and of marriage as they try to adjust to life together. When yellow fever befalls Charlotte and her identity is discovered, she begs first officer, Ned Cochran, and Julia to keep her presence and illness from her brother. But could this secret create insurmountable waves between Julia and William? And will Ned’s tender care of Charlotte change the tide of her affections forever?

Love Remains is the first book in a new contemporary series, The Matchmakers, with Barbour Books. Every grandmother wants to see her grandchildren happy, especially when it comes to their love lives. Join five active senior ladies—and one gentleman—who take a great interest in the lives and loves of their single grandchildren and become The Matchmakers. Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson become the first focus of meddling grandmothers when he moves back to Nashville to work for the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. Will Zarah be able to forgive the man who years ago chose a military career over her—especially when she learns he is investigating the historic preservation agency for which she works?

What do you believe is the greatest conflict writers face today (especially writers who do not want to compromise their faith)? How do you believe they can overcome these obstacles?

I think the greatest conflict for most believers who are novelists is a conflict of reconciling the business side of the industry with what they believe is a personal ministry through writing. Publishing houses, whether publishing Christian fiction or general-market fiction, are in business to make money. Many believers feel they are called to write fiction as a way of ministering to or evangelizing others—and the lose sight of the fact that publishing houses aren’t there to support their ministry, but to publish books and make a profit from them so that they can continue to publish more books.

The best way to overcome this is to keep everything in perspective. If God has truly called a writer to write, then God will determine how that writing is to be used for His glory. We have to remain open to the possibility that, while He may have called us to write, He may not be calling us to be published—or to be published within our own timeframe. We just have to keep faithfully doing the work He’s called us to do and let Him handle what’s out of our control.

Why do you write?

My heart is, as it has been for more than twenty years, focused on writing light-hearted romances—romances that cast a ray of hope into the lives of people who’ve been told their situation in life is hopeless. I like writing characters who represent a growing segment of the population that seems to be increasingly left out in Christian circles: women in their late-twenties, thirties, and early-forties (and even older) who have never been married and who want to be loved and accepted for who they are, not pigeon-holed into a category, labeled, or, as happens most often, shoved to the side and ignored/forgotten about by their churches, coworkers, or even friends and family. I’m writing to the women who, like me, expected to be married before they turned twenty-five (-six, -seven, -eight . . .), but who may find themselves now in their mid- to late-thirties or forties and have never even had a date or meaningful relationship.

I’m writing for them (me, actually) so we can hang on to the hope of finding a well-adjusted, loving, marriage-minded Christian man out there somewhere and having a “happily ever after” ending with him (with the hope that he may be closer than we realize). I’m writing for the woman who, like me, feels most alone when she goes to church and sees all the married/engaged couples and families sitting together; who has to endure the family-focused activities, Bible studies, Sunday school lessons, and sermons (if you’ve never noticed, start keeping track of how often your pastor talks about families and/or marriage); who begins to feel it isn’t just the church that has pushed her aside and forgotten about her, but that maybe God has too.

How do you find joy in your creative journey?

Because I’m single and I write romance, the most fun part of writing for me is falling in love right along with my characters. It’s that fantasy of what could be, and what I hope God will one day bring into my own life.

Everybody has misadventures on the road to success. What is one of the wackiest things you’ve ever done to find your fifteen minutes of fame?

Hmmm . . . I’m one of those people who lives in a perpetual state of being anxious that I’m going to embarrass myself, so I try to avoid situations like that. I guess I’d have to say that the closest I’ve come to anything like this was when I got up in front of 500+ people at the 2008 ACFW national conference to give a devotional and told everyone that I was stalking James Scott Bell.

What is the best advice you can give a writer just getting started?

Above all else, finish your first draft. Spend more time working on your story—on developing the depth and breadth of your plot and characters—than on anything else. It’s less important to have a trunk full of rejections than it is to have a great story that will catch the eye of your dream editor/agent. And don’t rest on just one or two completed manuscripts. Once you send something out, start writing your next novel—and be planning the one after that. The best way to prepare for being a multi-published novelist is to write multiple manuscripts before you ever sign that first contract.

Please answer the question I didn’t ask but that you wish I did.

My great-grandfather was a multi-published author. John Caylor, Sr., held degrees from Howard College (now Samford University), Oklahoma Baptist University, the University of Alabama, and was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree from Louisiana College. He served as Editorial Secretary of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and he was editor of Home Missions magazine, which, at the time, had a circulation of 175,000. He was listed in “Who’s Who” in America, and was a much-beloved pastor. Amongst his published titles were America Needs God, In Evangeline’s Country, A Path of Light, Ways of Witnessing, and, my personal favorite, The Great “I am’s” of Jesus (published in 1957 by Zondervan). Unfortunately, DeeDaddy died of cancer several years before I was born. But I’m pretty sure it would have made him proud to know that I’m (sort of) following in his footsteps.

Finally, please leave us with your favorite Bible verse, inspirational quote or song lyric. Tell us what it means to you.

My favorite passage is Hebrews 12:1-3:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NASB)

To me, this is my Christian journey in a nutshell—I wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for those who’ve gone before me, who now surround me, and who will come after me; I must persevere in the tasks God has set before me—and I can do so only by living on faith in Jesus, who endured so much more than I will ever be asked to go through.

If you want to be a writer and are ready to take the first steps, you absolutely MUST begin your journey with a visit to Kaye’s website. She has a passion to unselfishly encourage beginning writers (like me). I can tell you first-hand that when I made up my mind to become serious about honing my writing craft, I visited Kaye’s blog and found just what I needed to give me a clear understanding of the expectations of a serious writer.

I also highly recommend the Middle Tennessee Christian Writers group, which meets every second Saturday of the month in Nashville, Tennessee. If you live in the Middle Tennessee area, you should consider a visit. You’ll meet wonderful people who share your passion for writing and your love for Jesus Christ.

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21 thoughts on “Monday Mentor: Kaye Dacus”

Ms. Kaye,
You seem like an extremely cool person. You are especially an inspiration to young writers like myself. Thank you for blessing me with what you had to say. I hope God continues to bless your life.

I was 30 years old the first time I ever realized that there were not only people out there with the same “affliction” I had but who were actually proud to talk about their writing and teach others how to do it, too. Because I have a teacher’s heart, once I started learning about the craft of writing and the publishing industry, I had to pass it along to others. It seems selfish not to share that kind of powerful knowledge!

Em, you need to read as much as you can from writers like Kaye. You have such a talent. It’s going to be exciting to see how God uses your talent, and by learning from writers like Kaye, you’ll be equipped to do what you’re called to do when the time is right.

I love how she has been dedicated to writing more than 20 years. That tells people follow your dreams it will lead you to amazing places. I also love how when she writes she don’t just write to publish but she actually falls in love with the characters she rights aboutt.

Brandi,
When I was a teenager, my bedroom had a small walk-in closet. With a chest in there, padded with a couple of blankets and pillows, it made the perfect place to hide and write. So I wrote “in the closet” for twenty years, literally and figuratively, until I realized that I was being called to actually do something with my writing.

Letting someone (my mom and grandmother) read my writing after so many years was one of the hardest things I ever did. Of course, now they’re my biggest fans and greatest publicists!

I’m so glad you left the conference pumped up! There was so much good information from all the speakers. MTCW has been very blessed to have Kaye leading the group and imparting her experience and wisdom so freely.

Kaye is truly a blessing. As for the conference, I had several moments that I was saying to myself, “OHHHH, so that’s what all this means.” That’s a good thing because I felt pretty much bewildered prior to going.

You are one of the few who keep me motivated to finish my first draft. It’s taking a while, hopefully I can finish it soon, but once it’s done, I will be overjoyed. I can really relate to you and your writing. I like to fall in love right along with my characters and see them to a “happily ever after” as you said. Writing will definitely occupy me because I come up with ideas constantly. God Bless You, and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. :)

Don’t try to rush yourself through the process of writing your first book. Just like every other experience in your life, there will never again be a “first” first draft, a “first” first-completed manuscript, a “first” first-time-I-ever-finished-writing-a-novel moment. Savor each step.